Measuring system



Ap 29, 1952 D. HALL MEASURING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 26, 1946 Patented Apr. 29, 1952 2,594.42: maasvamo SYSTEM Donald L. mu, Rockford, m, minor to Barber- Colman Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,540 8 Claims. (Cl. 346-31) This invention pertains to apparatus for detecting and measuring small direct voltages. More particularly the invention relates to improved means for inverting a small direct voltage produced as a result of a moisture or other condition change and for utilizing the inverted voltage to effect an automatic and proportional exhibiting of the condition.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the above character in which a small direct voltage resulting from a departure of a condition from a normal value is inverted into an alternating voltage of one phase or of opposite phase depending upon the polarity and of an amplitude which depends upon the magnitude of the direct voltage. The alternating voltage produced is not only more readily amplified than the corresponding direct voltage but is of a commercial frequency readily utilized in modern types of commercial servomotors and exhibiting devices.

Another object is to produce a simple and effective means for inverting direct voltages into corresponding alternating voltages of predeterminable amplitude and phasing and which does not require the use of mechanically moving parts or contacts. A correlative object is to provide a device of the character described which, although normally incorporating electron tubes. is also susceptible to the use of simple dry disk rectifier units where operating conditions make the use of tubes inadvisable.

A further object is to provide an improved de-- tector for small direct voltages which is ideally suited for use with a resistor network and bridge circuit responsive to the moisture content of fabric and which may be coupled to the control windings of a reversible servomotor for purposes of exhibiting such moisture content.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: I

Figure 1 is a schematic view and wiring diagram of detector and measuring apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention.

' Fig. 2 is'a plot of the voltage wave at the output of the rectifier portion of the device under balanced conditions corresponding to a zero D. C. input voltage.

' Fig. 2a. is a plot of the voltage wave at the output of the rectifier portion under conditions of an applied D. C. voltage of a given polarity and showing the alternating voltage component contained therein.

' convenience and simplicity Fig. 2b shows the voltage wave under conditions or opposite input polarity resulting in a reversal of the phasing of the alternating voltage component.

The invention is applicable to the detection and exhibition of a wide variety of conditions. For of illustration, the invention has been shown in Fig. l and described in detail herein as embodied in an apparatus for exhibiting the moisture content of a traveling web ill. of cloth. Although this typifies the many uses to which the invention may be put, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim .to cover all modifications and alternative constructions and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of ready understanding, the cir cuit disclosed in Fig. 1 and embodying the invention may be divided into three portions which, although cooperating with one another to produce a novel and improved result, may nevertheless be separately considered. The first of these portions, which is in electrical contact with the web l0, may be termed the input resistor network and is designated generally by the numeral l2. The second portion of the circuit, lying to the right of the dashed line I3. is the inverter H for inverting the small direct voltage derived from the network l2 into an alternating voltage of predetermined amplitude and phasing. The third portion of the device, located at the lower edge of Fig. 1 and indicated at I5. is the exhibiting portion of the system and in the present instance includes rebalancing and recording components.

Input resistor network Referring more particularly to the input network l2 it will be seen that the fabric l0, whose 40 moisture content is to be measured in terms of its resistance, passes between roller electrodes I6, I8. Means (not shown) are normally provided for continuously drawing the fabric through the rollers I8, l8, reference being made to the Lilja et a1. Patent No. 2,358,338 which shows the fabric treating and transporting arrangement in greater detail.

To impress a voltage upon the cloth sample any well known type of regulated D. 0. power supply 20 may be used, the voltage at supply terminals 2|, 22 being applied to the electrodes in series with network resistances to be detailed. In the practice of the invention the current flowing through the fabric is caused to control the grid potential in a vacuum tube included in one bridge circuit. The remaining caused to be balanced under leg of a Wheatstone bridge. Departure from a predetermined grid potential results in unbalancing the bridge and the production of a small 110 age at the output terminals thereof which, in addition to enabling exhibition of moisture content, is also utilized to effect rebalancing of the network.

'In the present embodiment the electrodes |8, |8 are coupled to the grid 23 of vacuum tube 24 through a calibration resistor 25. An additional network resistor 21 serves; with the resistor 25, to complete a shunt path around the fabric engaging electrodes. The resistor 25 carries sliders 25 thereon which may be manually adjusted to vary the total value of resistance 25 but still apply a predetermined portion of thevvoltage across resistor 25 to the grid of the tube. Voltage is applied to the resistor 21 and thus to resistor 25 and electrodes l5, l8 from the D. C. power supply 20 through a resistance network consisting of resistor 28 and parallel connected potentiometer 30, resistor 3|, potentiometer 38 and resistor 35. The potentiometer 30 carries a slider 33 which is connected to cathode 32 of the tube 24, the position of the slider. and hence the bias on the cathode, being automatically adjusted by a follow-up arrangement to be described to rebalance the network to a null" or'zero output condition.

The network resistors 21, 28 in addition to serving as part of the network applying voltage to the fabric engaging electrodes, have an additional function which will again be referred to. In short, they are manually adjustable to determine the limits of fabric moisture content, in other words the range of fabric resistance, which may be detected and indicated by the remaining portions of the system.

The vacuum tube 24 constitutes one leg of a legs as illustrated in Fig. 1 include resistors 3|, 35 and 35, voltage being applied to resistors 35. 35 from terminal 22 of the D. C. power supply. At one corner of the bridge between resistors 3|, 35 is a balancing potentiometer 33 which enables the bridge to be manually balanced prior to putting the system into operation. Normally the potentiometer 38 will require readjustment only as a result of changing the circuit constants or because of a change in the characteristics of the vacuum tube 24.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that by proper manual adjustment of resistors 25 and 38, and for a given setting of the rebalancing potentiometer 30, the bridge can be conditions in which the fabric has a predetermined moisture content. Under such conditions, zero voltage will appear across network output terminals 40, 4|. Any increase or decrease in moisture content from the predetermined value will produce a D. C. voltage at the output terminals, the polarity of which is determined by the direction of the change in moisture content and the magnitude of which is dependent upon the amount of such variation.

D. C. to A. C. inverter In accordance with the invention, novel and improved means are provided for inverting the direct voltage input signal which appears across the terminals 40, 4| to produce an alternating voltage whose phasing and amplitude are dependent upon the polarity and magnitude respectively of the direct voltage. The resulting alternating voltage may then'be utilized to excite a reversible A. C. servomotor in a manner to be as the normal operating resistance of the diodes.

The input terminals 50,- 5| of the bridge are excited from two voltage sources. The first is an A. C. carrier wave derived from the secondary winding 60 of a'transformer 6| which has its primary winding connected to the conventional 60-cycle supply line 52. In series with the secondary winding so are network terminals 40, 4|

so that any direct voltage appearing across the latter is applied in series with the alternating voltage appearing across the transformer winding. Since the voltage ratio of the transformer 5| is preferably such that the peak voltage appearing on the secondary winding somewhat exceeds all normal values of the direct input voltage, the direct voltage may be considered to be superimposed upon the A. C. wave, shifting the latter upwardly or downwardly with respect to its axis.

Since the impedance of the resistor network i2 between terminal 40, 4| is relatively high, it has been found desirable to provide a shunt path for the alternating voltage induced in the winding 6|]. This is accomplished in the present embodiment by shunting the terminals 40, 4| by a capacitor 63. It will be noted that the capacitor is also connected to an electromagnetic switch or relayin order that it may be switched out of the circuit for a purpose which will later appear.

With the diodes 54, 55 polarized as shown in the drawing, the bridge acts as a full wave rectifier. This is readily seen by assuming that the input terminals 5| of the bridge has an instantaneous negative potential as compared to the input terminal 50. Under such conditions current flow will take place through diode 54-and resistor 58 causing a voltage drop through the latter resistor and making the output terminal 52 negative with respect to the output terminal 53. If it is next assumed that the input terminal 5| has a positive polarity. as it will in the succeeding half cycle of input voltage, current will flow through the diode 55 and the resistor 56, producing in this resistor a voltage drop which is in a direction to cause terminal 52 to be negative with respect to terminal 53. Thus it is seen that regardless of the polarity of the voltage applied to the input terminals, the voltage at the output of the bridge will be a direct voltage consisting of successive pulses, the amplitude of each pulse being dependent upon the amplitude of the A. C. pulse applied to the input terminals. It has been found that a similar rectifying effect is achieved using dry disk rectifier units in place of the diodes.

In the case where the control voltage across terminals 40, 4| is zero, the only signal then appearing across the input terminals 50, 5| of the bridge will be the alternating wave generated in the winding 50. Since successive half cycles of the latter are of equal amplitude, the rectified wave appearing across the output terminals 52,

any direct voltage across terminals 40, 4|, how- I ever. is to produce an input signal which is nonsymmetrical, in other words in which alternate half cycles are not of equal amplitude. Such a wave, when rectified, results in direct voltage pulses which are of unequal amplitude a indicated at 65a, 66a. in Flg. 2a. The difference in amplitude between the pulses 65a, 36a is roughly proportional to the degree of nonsymmetry of the input wave, in other words to the magnitude of the direct control voltage which has been superimposed upon the A. C. wave. In the event that the direct voltage across terminals 43, 4| is of opposite polarity; the relative magnitudes of successive output pulse is reversed, being indicated at 85b, 66b in Fig. 2b.

Although the voltage wave at the output terminals 52. 53 of the bridge is unidirectional, it contains alternating voltage components, and in accordance with the invention only the latter are utilized for purposes of measurement. In the present embodiment such alternating voltage components are selectively passed by means of a capacitor 68 which is connected to terminal53 and serves to block the passage of direct current in a manner which is well known to those skilled inthe art. Included in the output circuit of the bridge and in series with the capacitor is a primary winding of a coupling transformer II. The latter has a secondary winding 12 which feeds into input terminals I3 of an amplifier 14. Means are provided for filtering the complex voltage wave derived from the bridge circuit so that only the component at line frequency (ordinarily 60 cycles) is fed into the amplifier 14. In the present instance this is accomplished by shunting the secondary winding 12 of the coupling transformer II by a capacitor 15. The reactance of the latter is so chosen with respect to the reactance of the transformer so that resonance takes place at 60 cycles and including a range of frequencies somewhat less than 50 cycles. the circuit may be chosen by a process of trial and adjustment using an oscilloscope or by theoretical techniques well known in the art. After filtering, and as applied to the amplifier, the 60 cycle wave is of the general shape and phasing shown at 61, 61a and 61b in Figs. 2, 2a and 2b respectively.

It is highly desirable that any filter which may be associated with the input terminals of the amplifier be tuned to pass signals at line frequency but strongly discriminate against second and higher harmonics of the line frequency. Inspection of Fig. 2 shows that the full wave rectification occurring in the bridge circuit produces an output wave obviously having a large percentage of ripple at a frequency which is twice line frequency, in other words at 120 cycles per second. Since modern types of reversible servomotors include a field winding which is connected to the supply line, the application of voltage at twice line ,i'requency to the control windings merely produces heating without producing torque therein, a condition w ich is avoided by use of the filter circuit which as been described.

The amplifier 14, which has a pair of output terminals Hi feeding the exhibiting portion of the apparatus, is indicated merely in block form. It will be understood, however, that such amplifier may be any one of numerous commercial types suitable for amplifying an alternating voltage wave. If desired, the amplifier may be so constructed as to peak at the 60 cycle line frequency.

The circuit components in this portion of Exhibiting portion The exhibiting portion of the device, shown in the lower half of the drawing and indicated generally by the numeral Ilin the present instance includes a balancing unit 18 and a recorder 88. Within the balancing unit is a reversible servomotor M of a well known type which includes a field winding 82 and four shading windings 83. The latter are supplied from the output terminals 16 of the amplifier and perform a valve-like control function so that a small amount of alternating current therein causes the motor to rotate in either one direction or the other depending upon the phasing of such current with respect to the current in the field 82. The torque, and therefore the speed of rotation of the motor. on the other hand, is a function of the amplitude of the exciting wave. In short, the direction and speed of rotation of the servomotor depends upon the polarity and magnitude of the direct voltage across terminals 40 and 4| which in turn is dependent upon the variation of moisture content in the fabric from a pre-existing value.

Rotatively coupled to the servomotor BI is a gear train 84 driving a shaft 85. The latter is coupled to the slider 33 of the rebalancing potentiometer 30 which is. included in the network portion I2 to which reference has already been made. The rebalancing potentiometer serves as a follow-up device in a manner well known in servo systems. In the present embodiment the position of the slider 33 determines the potential applied to the cathode 32 of the vacuum tube 24 in the networ Thus any change in the grid potential of this tube, due' to a change in the moisture content of the fabric, causes rotation of the servomotor 8| which continues until the slider 33 has moved sufficiently to restore the tube 24 to its initial state and thereby to rebalance the network.

It will be noted from inspection of Fig. 1 that the balancing shaft 85 also serves simultaneously to position the recording pen in the recorder 80. This is accomplished by means of cam 86 which determines the'angular adjustment of a pen arm 88 which carries a pen at its extremity. Rotation of a cooperating chart 9| upon the passage of time may be effected in a conventional manner by means of a synchronous driving motor 32 acting through any desired type of gear train.

Means are provided for enabling any desired range of moisture content to be accommodated on the chart, in other words, to cause the limit positions of the pen to correspond with predetermined percentages of moisture content. This is accomplished by adjustably controlling the potential existing at the end points of the rebalancing potentiometer 30. In the circuit illustrated the potential existing at the left-hand terminal 30a of the potentiometer 30 may be adjusted by moving the slider of the network resistor 21 while the potential at the opposite end 30b may be varied by adjustment of the. network resistor 28.

In order to prevent the servomoter 8| from driving the recorder arm 88 off of the associated scale and in order to prevent possible damage to the moving parts under extreme moisture conditions, limit switches 96 and 91 are. provided which are controlled by cams rotatably driven by the balancing shaft 85. If the shaft should, for any reason, be driven into a limit position, the appropriate one of the limit switches 96, 91 would close. The latter causes short-circuiting of a diagonally opposed pair of the windings 83 and a main motionless.

7 momentary reversal of the motor resulting in oscillation or hunting about the limit position. It will be appreciated, however, that other types of limiting arrangements could be used without departing from my invention.

It is frequently necessary to shut down the fabric treating apparatus, for example, atthe end of a shift or run of a particular kind of goods. Since the latter interrupts the continuity of the measuring process. the percentage of moisture indicated during the short period of time after the treating apparatus is restarted not only is entirely meaningless for control purposes but may be actually misleading. In'accordance with one aspect of my invention, therefore, means are provided for causing the pen of the recorder to travel to one-of its extreme positions when the fabric treating "device is shutdown, the' latter serving as definite notice to one reading the chart that a'shutdowrr'has occurred. This is accomplished in the present embodiment by providing an electrical contactor 93 having contacts Ola and 93b. The coil of the contactor is initially energized by a start" switch 94 as an incident to starting up the fabric'treating process after which the winding continues to be energized by the closure of the sealing in contacts 9311. A stop switch Q5, which is operated as an incident to shuttingdown the fabric treating apparatus, deenergizes the contactor. Contacts 93a form a, single pole double throw-switch serving to short circuit the bridge resistor 58 during "off periods. Such shorting then maintains the bridge in an unbalanced condition and causes the pen 90 to oscillate slightly about one of its limit positions until the apparatus is put into motion and the start switch 94 is operated to restore the circuit to its normal condition as shown in the drawing.

Rsiime' of operation Althoughthe operation of the measuring. system will be apparent from the foregoing descripnot, the following, brief summary will be helpe ful. It will be assumed at the outset that the network bridge including the vacuum tube 24 has been initially balanced by proper. adjustment of the potentiometer 38 and that the calibration resister has been adjusted so that :for a prede-,

termined moisture content the pen sll, occupies the corresponding point on thechart Hi. I It. will be further. assumed that the .network resistors awe-12s ,21, 28 have' been adjustedvto predetermine the rangeg'of moisture content which willbe indicated onfthechart. Under such circumstances, and after the follow-uphas reached an equilibriu'm position, a zero output voltage will appear ,1 across the terminals 40, 4i andthe signal applied to'the input terminals 50, 5| of the inverter bridge will be a symmetrical A. C. wave. the rectified wave appearing at the output terminalsil, 53 will then consist of successive pulses which are substantially identical, there will' be no component in the output wave having a'frequency which is the same as that of the supply line. Accordingly the output of the amplifier will be substantially zero and the motor 8! will re- 4 Should. the amount of moisture in the fabric change, this fact will be reflected in a change of resistance .between the electrodes [6, l8 and a change in the voltage on the grid of the vacuum tube 24. The. latter will change the effective cathode-plate resistance of the tube causing an unbalance in the condition of the bridge and Since the recorder chart.

8 the presence of direct voltage across terminals 40, 4| at the output of the bridge. The latter causes theeA. 0. wave supplied to the inverter bridge to be nonsymmetrical about its axis, and the successive rectified pulses proiiuced.at the output terminals 52, 53 will be of unlike amplitude. The rectified wave will, therefore, contain an A. C. component at supply line frequency as indicated at 61a in Fig. 2a. The latter is selectively passed by the filter 12, I5, amplified and applied to the control windings 83 of the servomotor.

Depending upon whether the voltage wave is of a phase as shown at 61a in Fig. 2a or at 61b in Fig. 2b, the servomotor 8| will rotate in one direction or the other. The rcsuitingrotation of the balancing shaft 85 will cause movement of the slider 33 in the balancing potentiometer 30, the

latter, by changing the potential at the cathode For the sake of simplicity and ready understanding the invention has been discussed as applied to a continuous moisture recorder. It will be apparent. however, that the invention is equally applicable to the measurement of other conditions and for use withfiother types -of exhibiting devices. It will likewise be apparent that the rotational movement of the balancing shaft 85 may be utilized to vary the speedof the fabric in between drying rolls inthe fabric treating apparatus to automatically maintain-the moisture content at a predetermined value. The sensitivity of the system and its rapidand proportional response to moisture :c'hangs make it ideally ,suited tothe latter purpose and to analogous putrposes which will appear to'one skilled in the ar I claim as my invention:

1. 'A device for detecting asmall direct voltage comprising a full wave rectifier having an input circuit and output circuit and of a type capable of converting an alternating-input current to a direct output current consisting of a succession of rectified pulses, and a source of alternating voltage in said input circuit in series with said direct voltage.

2. A device for detecting a small direct voltage comprising a full wave rectifier having an input circuit and anoutput circuit, a source of alternating voltage in said input circuit in series with a source of the input voltage to be detected and relatively greater in amplitude, and a filter in said output circuitfor discriminating against alternating voltages which are in second harmonic relation to the alternating voltage in said input circuit.

3. A device for detecting a small direct voltage comprising a full wave rectifier having an input circuit and an output circuit, a source of alternating voltage in said input circuit in series with a source of the direct voltage to be detected and relatively greater in amplitude, and afilter in said output circuit for selectively passing a voltage signal of a frequency which is substantially the same as said alternating voltage source.

4. In a servo system the combination comprising a source of direct voltage which is of a greater in amplitude than normal values of said varying direct voltage, a, full wave rectifier having an input circuit and an output circuit and adapted to convert an alternating input current into a succession of unidirectional current pulses in said output circuit, a capacitor in series with said output circuit and means including an electrical series connection for superimposing said voltages and applying the resultant voltage to said input circuit.

5. In a device for detecting direct voltages, the combination of a bridge circuit having input and output terminals, a source of variable direct voltage, a source of alternating voltage relatively greater in amplitude than normally attained direct voltages and at a fundamental frequency, means applying said voltages to said input terminals in series relation, and rectifiers in at least two adjacent legs of said bridge, said rectifiers being polarized to produce a voltage at said output terminals consisting of unidirectional pulses and having an alternating voltage component at said fundamental; frequency when said direct voltage is at a value other than zero.

6. In a device for detecting direct voltages, the combination comprising a source of variable direct voltage including a high impedance resistor network, a full wave rectifier having an input circuit and an output circuit, a source of alternating voltage of a fundamental frequency and of an amplitude greater than the amplitude of normally attained direct voltages, means including an electrical series connection for applying said voltage sources to the input of said rectifier in superimposed relation, and a capacitor across said direct voltage source for by-passing the alternating current flowing in the input circuit of said rectifier and serving as a return path therefor.

7. In a motor control circuit, the combination comprising a network for producing a direct control voltage in accordance with changes in a condition and having a high impedance, a bridge circuit having input and output terminals, said bridge circuit having rectiilers in at least two adjacent legs thereof and resistors in the remaining legs, an alternating voltage source in series with said direct voltage across said input terminals and of relatively greater magnitude than normally attained values of said direct voltage, said rectifiers in said-bridge being polarized to produce a succession of undirectional pulses at the output terminals of said bridge, and a capacitor normally shunted across said high impedance circuit for by-passing the alternating current and serving as a return path therefor.

8. In a device for recording a condition to be controlled and for use with adjustable means for maintaining said condition, a normally balanced electrical circuit including means producing a voltage in accordance with the condition, said circuit also including follow-up rebalancing means for neutralizing the effect of a voltage change in said circuit brought about by a change in the condition, a timed recorder actuated by said circuit for recording said condition, the movable element in said recorder being mechanically coupled to said follow-up means, and means operated as an incident to the shutting down of said condition maintaining means for greatly unbalancing said electrical circuit thereby to drive the recorder to an extreme position and to positively indicate the interval during which shutdown exists.

DONALD L. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,148,718 Agins Feb. 28, 1939 2,180,487 Triplett 2. Nov. 21, 1939 2,203,689 MacDonald June 11, 1940 2,341,280 Ludbrook Feb. 8, 1944 2,342,629 Evjen et a1. Feb. 29, 1944 2,377,474 Allwein June 5, 1945 2,392,916 Gruss Jan. 15, 1946 2,414,102 Hull et a1 Jan. 14, 1947 2,414,317 Middel Jan. 14, 1947 2,424,568 Isbister et a1 July 29, 1947 2,446,188 Miller Aug. 3, 1948 2,447,232 Cartotto Aug. 17, 1948 2,447,321 Ertzmann Aug. 17, 1948 2,469,005 Russell May 3, 1949 

